Edward J. Lewis, son of Quakers Enoch Lewis and Lydia Jackson, was born on 25 Sep 1828 in Delaware, Pennsylvania, United States.  Edward was a Union Army Soldier, Postmaster, and had a long career in journalism. In 1855, Edward moved to Bloomington, Illinois. In June, 1856 Lewis became The Pantagraph's newest editor.

The Early Years

In 1850, Edward age twenty-one and a Farmer, resided with the Thomas Williamson family, the head of household and a Farmer in New Garden Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States.

The Civil War

Edward Jackson Lewis, age thirty-two and a resident of Bloomington, Illinois, enlisted in the Union Army for three years as a Private on 15 Aug 1861. Edward was described as 5' 6 1/2 tall; black hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion. Private Lewis was assigned to Company C, 33rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry.

On 24 Jan 1862, Private Lewis received his commission and was assigned the rank of First Lieutenant. On 16 May 1863, First Lieutenant Lewis was promoted to the rank of Captain.

On 24 Nov 1865, Captain Lewis was discharged from the Union Army and died on 3 Nov 1907.

Civil War Engagements with the 33rd, Organized: Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois on 3 Sep 1861, Mustered out: 24 Nov 1865, nickname: Teacher's Regiment (the 33rd Illinois Infantry was originally formed from many college students on the campus of the Illinois State Normal School and became known as the "Teacher's Regiment". In one company there were 13 college graduates and all were privates. The soldiers were so well educated that the standard joke was that men discharged for mental incapacity would have made officers in other regiments): Civil War Data - Regiment

• Fredericktown, (aka Battle of Fredericktown), 21 Oct 1861, Near Fredericktown, Missouri, Union victory
• Cotton Plant, (aka Action at Hill's Plantation or Action at Cache River or Action at Round Hill[), 7 Jul 1862, Woodruff County, Arkansas, Union victory
• Port Gibson, 1 May 1863, Claiborne County, near Port Gibson, Mississippi, United States, Union victory
• Champion Hill, pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign, 16 May 1863, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States, Union Victory
• Big Black River Bridge, a part of the Vicksburg Campaign 17 May 1863, Hinds County, Mississippi and Warren County, Mississippi, United States, Union Victory
• Vicksburg, final major military action in the Vicksburg campaign, 18 May-4 Jul 1863, Warren County, Mississippi, United States, Union Victory
• Jackson, preceding and related to the siege of Jackson immediately followed the Confederate surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 4, 1863, to Union Army Major General Ulysses S. Grant, 5-25 Jul 1863, Near Jackson, Mississippi, United States, Union Victory
• Brownsville, 2-6 Nov 1863, Brownsville, Texas, United States, Union Victory
• Fort Esperanza, 27-30 Nov 1863, Cedar Bayou and Matagorda Island, Texas, United States, Union Victory
• Spanish Fort, as part of the Mobile Campaign, 27 Mar-8 Apr 1865, Baldwin County, Alabama, United States, Union Victory

Postbellum

Edward married Elizabeth �Eliza� Witherell Shores on 7 Mar 1872 in McLean, McLean, Illinois, United States. Edward and Eliza did not have children of their own but she had a child from a previous marriage, Sylvia Shores English (6 Feb 1861-26 Jan 1904).

By 1880, Edward age fifty-one and the head of household and a Postmaster resided in Normal, McLean, Illinois, United States with his wife of eight years, Eliza and his stepdaughter Sylvia. In addition, his mother Sylvia, his stepfather William Wells and a boarder were also residents of the household.   Edward was in a pension record in 1899 in Illinois, United States.   As of 1900, Edward age seventy-one and the head of household resided on 208 Kelsey Street in Normal Township, McLean, Illinois, United States with his wife of twenty-eight years, Eliza and they are empty nesters. The Census shows Eliza has given birth to three children and only one is living in 1900. In addition, his mother Sylvia, his stepfather William Wells and a boarder were also residents of the household.

Death & Burial

Captain Edward J. Lewis, died on Sunday, 3 Nov 1907 at his home at 304 East Kelsey Street at the age of 79 years, 1 month, and 9 days in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, United States. He had been ill, suffering from a "sudden illness of the stomach," he entered a deep sleep from which he never awoke. Edward is interred in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, United States.

Complete bio by Anthony Bowman, 2009, Find A Grave: Memorial #25969781